Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-04-30
CHAPTER II.
THE YEARS ROLL by.

sOf course poor Vincey's sudden death Gre
ated great stir in the college, but as he was
known to be very i'll, and satisfactory doc
tors certificate was forthcoming, there was
no Ngquest. They were not so particular
about inquests in those days as they are now;
indeed, they were generally disliked, as caus-
ing a scandal Under all these circumstances,
as was asked no questions, l did not feel
called upon to volunteer any information
about our interview Of the night Of Vincey's
decease beyond saying that he had come into
my rooms to see me, as he often did. On the
day of the funeral a lawyer came down from
London and followed my poor friends re-
HMins to the grave, and then went back with
his papers and effects excepting, of course,
the iron chest which had been left
In my keeping. For week after
this ] heard no more of the matter,
and, indeed, my attention was amply occu-
pied in other ways, for was up for my fell
sskN ibip, fact that had prevented me from
Intending the funeral, or seeing the lawyer.
AT last, however, the examination was over,
and | came back to my rooms and sunk into
an easy chair with happy consciousness that
l had got through it very fairly. Soon, how
ever, my thoughts, relieved of the pressure
that had crushed them into single groove
tlduring the last few days, turned to the events
of the night Of poor Vincey's death, and
again asked myself what it all meant, and
! We ndered if should hear anything more of
! the matter, and, il did not, what it would
. be my duty to do with the curious iron chest.
! l sat there, and thought and thought till
began to grow quite disturbed over the whole
occurrence; the mysterious midnight visit
Hon, - NaI,A T., 1No T,,l
flied, the solemn oath that / had taken, and
which he had called on me to answer for in
another world to this. Had the man COM
mitted suiciGes 1t looked like it. And what
= was the quest of which he spoke. The cir
cunstances were almost uncanny, so much so
that though | am by no means nervous, or
apt to be alarmed at anything that may seem
to cross the bounds of the natural, | grew
4 afraid, and began to wish had had nothing
to do with it, How much more do | wish it
now, over twenty years afterwardi
As ! sat and thought there was knock at
the door, and letter in big blue envelope
was brought in TO me, saw at a glance that
it was a lawyers letter, and an instinct told
me. that it was connected with my trust.
rR letter, which still have, runs thus:
SrR-Our client the late NJ L. Vincey, Esq,
Nno uleu On TIC HtD instant IN - COlleGe, CaDl
bridge, has left behind him viii, of which you
will please End copy inclosed, and Of which VIC
are the executors. BY this viii you viii perceive
that you take life interest in Gbout half of the
lar Mr.. Vincey's property, now invested in con
soils, subject TO your acceptance of the guardian
ship Of his only son, Leo Yncey, at present an in
4 fart, aged s. Had we not ourselves drawn up the
a document in question in obedience to Mr. Vincey's
clear and precise Instructions, both personal and
written, and had he net then assured us that lie
had very good reasons for what he was doing we
are bound to tell you that its provisions seem t.
us of SO unusual nature that we should have fell
bound to call the attention of the court OF
chsncegy to them, in order that such steps might
be taken as seemed desirable TO it, either by con
testing the capacity of the testator or otherwise
TO safeguard the interests Of the infant. As II is
knowing that the tsstator was q gentleman OF thu
highest intelligence and aeumcn, and that he hai
absolutely no relations living TO whom he coul,
have confided the guardianship OF the child, w
dsset feel justified In taking this course.
Awaiting such instructions as you please Il
send us as regards the delivery of the infant anS
khe payment Of the proportion Of the dividend
due TO you, re remain, sir, faithfully yours,
q oEoFFnEv & IornsN.